Miranda unplugged

Sen. Richard Miranda said on the Senate floor today (Aug. 13) that he had always been supportive of the idea of a one-cent sales tax. He said the alternative plan to broaden the tax base – part of the Democrat’s comprehensive budget proposal – was too complicated, unmanageable and unrealistic, given the composition of the Legislature.

He said he is willing to talk to any member or to the governor about the sales tax and the budget. “However, given everything to consider, as much as I try to support a vote for the one-cent sales tax, at the end of the day I could not do that,” he said. He said he talked to people important in his district, and they advised him against it. He also explained his absence Aug. 12. The Senate was supposed to convene at 10 a.m. As noontime approached and the Senate still showed no signs of going on the floor, he said he decided to visit his brother – not Ben – who is seriously ill and has been semi-comatose for three days. He said he had wanted to keep that matter private. When the Senate went to the floor, it was too late for him to get back. He said at this point what needs to be done is to “drop the extremes on both sides” and negotiate a budget among Democrats and Republicans. To Republicans, he said they are going to have to accept the fact that they need to have Democratic votes.

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